Lost sailor may have consumed drugs

Innisfail - The man who disappeared from a hulking coal ship off the Queensland coast, and is presumed dead, may have vanished after drinking “a toxic substance”. Crew raised the alarm at 6pm AEST Thursday when the 47-year-old Filipino man could not be found on board, and about five hours after he was last seen. By the time the Australian Maritime Safety Authority was able to launch a full air and sea search, the ship was now more than 100 kilometres away from the area, between Innisfail and Lucinda. Rescue helicopters, and the Townsville Water Police searched until last light on Thursday.

By Friday the search area now spanned 800 square nautical miles (2743 square kilometres), and was combed with the help of AMSA’s search and rescue plane, six other fixed wing planes and the same rescue chopper used on Thursday. In total, eight aircrafts and five vessels were involved in the search. The “SBI Samba”, after searching the day before, continued heading south for Hay Point, near Mackay, on Friday. That night, experts suggested the man - if he was in the water - had run out of time, and was certainly dead. After arriving at Hay Point on Friday evening, the “SBI Samba” was boarded by Queensland Police officers. According to police, the death was not suspicious, and the man is thought to have disappeared overboard after “consuming a toxic substance”. Police were unable to elaborate on the nature of the substance but have said the death is not considered suspicious. Officers will now prepare a report for the coroner. He said the company would leave the investigation in the hands of the AFP, “given it’s a missing person case”. The AFP has told Australian Regional Media that Queensland Police are leading the investigation.

Scorpio are incorporated in the Marshall Islands, which has a reputation of having gentler shipping regulations and tax requirements when compared to more developed countries.

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